A place where one of the Eric Rasmussens out there uploads various writings.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Some 34-Year-Old Yahoo's Writing Statistics

My writing chair, under my inspiration lamp

When I tell the people in my life that I am taking an
honest-to-goodness, aw-shucks crack at selling a novel, it feels a little bit
like announcing that I am going to train to be an astronaut, or a professional jazz
flautist. I’m a mid-30s dude with two kids. I already have a very pleasant
career. I’m balding with increasing gusto. I don’t care for heights and I don’t
remember ever touching a flute. It’s sometimes embarrassing to reveal that I've set this goal, as if this sort of dalliance is something silly creative folks should
have gotten out of their systems in their 20s.

Just to be clear, that embarrassment is all classic
writers’ insecurity, as my people have been nobly supportive and helpful.
They’ve read my manuscripts and blog posts, offered big high fives when I’ve
experienced nibbles on my work, and, what I appreciate most of all, listened as
I jabber on relentlessly about what I have accomplished and what I have yet to
accomplish.

So, here are the statistics of my pursuit of writing fiction professionally so far. For my friends and family, this might be interesting in
a sort of what-I’ve-been-up-to way. For other aspiring writers, I know
comparing this data to your own experience can be reassuring and
motivating. For myself, I will delight in what I have accomplished so far, even
while I have such a long way to go.

Analysis – Perhaps this is more of a second novel. After I
hear back from the remaining queries (assuming no one is interested), I will set this project aside, perhaps for a big revision someday, or perhaps
as that first novel that exists only in my drawer.

Manuscript #2 – Gravity Lessens

Word count – 79,000

Start date – March 2014

Finished – November 2014

Beta readers – 5

Queries sent – 10 (1 partial request, 9 still outstanding)

Analysis – Hope flourishes for project number two. My first
response to an unsolicited query was a request for pages. That is huge. Is
there another word for huge? Huge. This is where I shall be focusing for a big
chunk of 2015.

Other writing efforts

Short stories – I have prepared four short stories, three
brand new, one adapted from a chapter in Gravity Lessens. I have entered them
in several contests that announce their finalists in March/April. I shall continue submitting them to journals until they find a home.

Future novels – I have two super cool ideas, and have
started taking notes on both.

Blog – I’m at 16 posts, most of which are things I’ve
written before, but I’ve added pictures and videos and, let’s face it,
hilarious commentary. I am creeping up to 1000 page views.

Twitter – I’ve gotten serious about a Twitter account, with
almost 100 tweets, two novel pitch contests, and several dozen followers.

I already have my dust jacket photo. Nailed it.

Reading – I’ve always read, but I am rediscovering the
rewards of tearing through books, instead of plodding through them like I have
been for several years. I’ve also devoured many of the canonical books on writing (Stephen King’s
On Writing, Self Editing for Fiction Writers, etc.)

Is this what it takes to earn an agent and sell a novel?
I haven't the foggiest. But none of these steps will make me a worse writer less
deserving of a publishing deal, so, that’s good news. Here we go, 2015…